Gianfranco Coppola has been re-elected as President of the Italian Sports Press Union (USSI) for a four-year term from 2025 to 2028. The announcement was made during the 47th USSI Congress, held from March 4 to 6 at the Royal-Continental Hotel in Naples.
Coppola, who serves as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Rai Campania, ran unopposed and secured an overwhelming 76 votes, with only four blank ballots cast. His re-election also marked the renewal of the National Council and the Board of Auditors, which consists of professional journalists and collaborators.
Following his confirmation, Coppola emphasized his commitment to defending the rights of journalists, particularly those working under challenging conditions with little protection. He highlighted the importance of training, ethics, and inclusion, stressing that these values, along with storytelling, will remain central to USSI’s mission. He also underlined the union’s strong connections with professionals across media sectors, including reporters, photographers, TV, radio, and digital platforms. Coppola reaffirmed USSI’s ongoing collaboration with key sporting institutions such as CONI, CIP, and Sport e Salute, as well as discussions with sports leagues to uphold journalistic integrity and professionalism.
Several representatives were also elected to key positions within USSI. Among them were professionals from various regions, including Abruzzo, Sardinia, Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Campania, Molise, Puglia, Lazio, Calabria, Tuscany, Marche, Veneto, Lombardy, and Liguria. Collaborators from Emilia-Romagna, Sicily, Lombardy, Umbria, Piedmont, and Basilicata were also appointed. The Board of Auditors saw notable appointments, with individuals from Sicily and Liguria taking on primary roles.
The congress also featured two key forums addressing significant topics in sports journalism. The first, titled “The Story of Sport: More Emotions, Less Artificial Intelligence,” brought together industry figures such as FNSI President Vittorio Di Trapani, Order of Journalists Vice President Angelo Baiguini, and Casagit President Gianfranco Giuliani to discuss the evolving landscape of sports reporting. The second forum, “Sports Tourism: Between Passion and Major Events,” saw contributions from Sole24Ore journalist Marco Bellinazzo, MSC Crociere Vice President Leonardo Massa, and two esteemed Olympic champions, Patrizio Oliva and Sandro Cuomo, among others.
During the congress, Coppola also honored Alessandra Costante, Secretary of FNSI, Roberto Ginex, President of INGPI, and Tommaso D’Aquanno, Director General of FNSI, for their contributions to sports journalism. With his re-election, Coppola aims to further strengthen USSI’s role in advocating for press freedom, professional development, and ethical sports journalism in Italy, ensuring that the union remains a strong pillar in the ever-evolving media landscape.
